‘Are you sure you’re alright?’ Michael asked worriedly as he helped her out of the car. He took her to a restaurant called “FENIQUE” and it looked very fancy, and quite expensive. Dani looked at him and she was touched by how concerned he was of her and she knew that he cared about her. She nodded at him. Her cheek where Tatiana had just slapped was sore and turned red. She knew it wouldn’t be long before Michael noticed it but she tried desperately to hide it from him. Michael got them a table and people around them started to whisper at each other and stare at them in fascination. Dani blushed. She had never been such center of attention before. Though she was a famous actress, she had never been much of the talk of the town. But being here with Michael, things were different. Surely you couldn’t go out with him without people gaping at you. Michael ordered them food and smiled at her. ‘So, tell me more about yourself Ms. LaPray’ he said which made Dani blush even more. They talked about their lives, how they got into Hollywood, music, their co-stars, and just about everything. He ordered them some fried chicken and some smoked salmon. They also had pumpkin pie for dessert. Dani was particularly interested by how Michael took off the skin of the fried chicken and called it “organic”. ‘So if I take off the skin on the fried chicken it’s organic?’ she asked with a giggle. ‘Yeah, I guess’ Michael replied and took another bite of his piece of chicken. They talked a little more until Michael noticed that Dani was stiff. She wasn’t moving her head and usually avoided his eyes when he talked to her. ‘Something wrong with your neck?’ he asked as he took what was his third piece of fried chicken. ‘I think so. I must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed’ she laughed and plopped some smoked salmon in her mouth. But as she turned her head, he knew what was wrong. There was a sore red spot on her cheek. He knew she must have been hiding it from him the whole time. What’s this?’ Michael asked a little angry as he turned her face to her sore cheek. ‘Michael it’s-it’s nothing’ Dani said a little frightened. ‘Did she slap you?’ he asked, furious now and well aware about who they were talking about. Dani slapped his hand away and looked down on the table. She tried to avoid his eyes. They were like truth-serums piercing through her. ‘Did she slap you?’ he asked again and could see that she was crying. She nodded slowly. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ he asked her. She didn’t answer him. She just cried softly. They were the only people left in the restaurant and Michael was relieved. He didn’t want people videotaping this and making stupid rumors about them. He stood up and walked to her. He pulled her into his arms and held her. She looked up at him, her blue eyes filled with tears. She looked like a little child there in his arms. She was so fragile. He knew she was special and he knew he had to take care of her. ‘I won’t let her hurt you again’ he whispered to her ear and stroked her hair. She smelled his scent. He smelled so sweet like vanilla. She wanted to stay in his arms forever. She felt so safe there like it was her haven for protection. ‘Thank you’ she whispered to him. He took her face and wiped the tears from her eyes with his gentle hands. ‘I’ll take care of you’ he smiled at her and once again their eyes met. He thought she looked so beautiful. And so childlike. Without a doubt, he knew he had fallen for this girl he had worked with for a short while. He wanted to lean closer and kiss her but he was afraid he might frighten her. She was like a little deer you had to approach carefully to get closer. ‘Would you like to finish lunch?’ he smiled at her and glanced at his watch. 2:30 pm. They had a short time with each other left but it was comforting that he was working with her. ‘Nah, I’m full’ Dani laughed, turning back to her old self again. ‘How about a walk in the park then?’ It’s still a little early’ he smiled down at her. He couldn’t believe it. He was falling for this girl he had worked with for almost 2 years but had barely known. He had been so in love with Tatiana then that he had barely noticed her. But he knew that his relationship with Tatiana had been a mistake. This girl with the bright blue eyes was special, like a rare gem. One who needed care and attention. ‘Sure. I need kind of need some fresh air right now’ she laughed and he felt his heart skip a beat. Her smile made his heart melt and the sound of her laughter was like music to his ears. ‘Great’ he grabbed his jacket and paid for their lunch. As Dani walked out the door, she realized how cold it was and she started to shiver. It was a chilly December. Snow had started to fall. The sun was shining but it barely gave warmth. Blankets of snow had covered the streets and treetops. ‘You cold?’ Michael asked her as he followed her outside. ‘A little’ she said through chattering teeth and managed to smile. ‘Here’ he took off his jacket and placed it on her shoulders. ‘Thank you. You sure you’re not cold?’ she smiled, worried that he was the one freezing. Michael only shook his head as he took her arm in his and they both walked to the park. A lot of people had noticed them and some eager fans also approached them and asked for an autograph or a photo with them. Of course, they loved their fans and would do anything for them. It was already 3 pm when they were sitting at the park bench, laughing. ‘That was a lot of work. Remind me never to go out again’ Michael giggled. Dani laughed. She didn’t know that he had a huge sense of humor. She always thought of him as serious and uninteresting. And cute and sexy as hell too (lol) But all that had changed… ‘Don’t be silly Michael. You’re fans love you’ she smiled shyly. He looked at her squarely with a serious look on his face. ‘They love you too y’know’ he told her honestly. He wanted to say ‘And I do too’ but he thought that might get things a little too far. He was frightened that he might say the wrong words and scare her. She was like an angel from heaven and he didn’t want to lose her. She nodded and smiled to herself. Michael stood up and helped her get up as well. ‘Ready to walk back?’ She shrugged. In truth, she felt like she didn’t want to go back to work. All she wanted was to sit with Michael and know more about him. ‘I don’t know. My feet hurt from my high heels’ she sighed. ‘Would you like me to carry you?’ he asked and she could see that he was extremely shy. But he had on this naughty smile on his lips. Her cheeks turned scarlet. ‘That’s not necessary. I think I can still walk’ she laughed softly. They walked back to the car, not saying anything for the moment. When they got back to the parking lot, Michael opened the car door for Dani and as she slid inside, she noticed that Michael was staring at her. Her heart skipped a beat as his eyes struck through her again. She looked away, embarrassed. The short trip back to the studio was an awfully quiet one. Michael and Dani haven’t said anything to each other ever since their eyes met and held that afternoon. They immediately began as soon as they arrived and they didn’t even bother to listen to Mr. Dileo, angry with them again for being late. Afterwards, they all went their separate ways. Dani hadn’t said a word to him since that afternoon. Michael was beginning to worry. Did he do something wrong? Did he say something that made her mad at him? As Dani drove home, she glanced at her side view mirrors and saw him standing there on the corner. Was there something he wanted to tell her? The reason Dani hadn’t said a word to him since their short encounter was because she saw something different in his eyes. Something deep and emotional that she almost came so close to finding it out. It frightened her a bit. It gave her goose bumps. When she got home, she greeted her parents and went to her room. There, she found Marshmallow wagging her tail and running around her room. Dani smiled. After a long and hard day at work, it always comforted her that someone, or at least something, was waiting for her. ‘Hey buddy, you hungry?’ she giggled. The dog barked as though in answer. ‘I’ll take that as a yes’ she laughed to herself and put some dog food in Marshmallow’s bowl. She was about to put the box of god food away when the phone rang. ‘Hello?’ she answered, the box of dog food still in her hand. ‘Dani? It’s me… It’s Michael’ . Her hands trembled. His sweet soft voice was enough to make her melt. ‘Hi Michael’ she managed to say. ‘Are you doing anything tonight?’ he asked. ‘Well I do have an appointment with my dog…’ she joked, glancing at Marshmallow ‘but I think I can fit you in with my schedule’ she giggled. She heard a laugh on the other line. ‘You are so silly Ms. LaPray. I’d like to invite you to dinner at my house’ . Her eyes widened. Of course she wanted to have dinner with him! He was always so sweet and generous to her. And always so thoughtful. ‘Sure. I’d love to’ she said and tossed her blonde hair. ‘Great then. My chauffer will come and pick you up. How does 7:30 sound? Think I won’t interrupt your appointment with your dog?’ he laughed again. ‘Sure. 7:30 is perfect’ she giggled. ‘Great! See you tonight’ he said, sounding happy as though this was his first time to invite a girl over. ‘Bye’ she hung up and laid on her bed. Michael invited her to dinner with him! She resisted the urge to scream as she picked Marshmallow up and danced around the room with her. When she was exhausted, she sat back on the bed. ‘Be a good girl while I’m gone okay?’ she instructed as though Marshmallow understood. Marshmallow wagged her tail and licked her cheek. She laughed and put her back down. She went to her closer and picked something to wear. Since it was winter, she picked a Chanel coat with some jeans and a pair of flat shoes. She also brought a scarf in case it would get windy. She got into the shower and an hour later, she reappeared already wearing the apparel she chose for the night. She didn’t wear any make-up. She believed that natural beauty is always seen without the mask of cosmetics and or make-up. She let her blonde curls slide past her shoulders. Their doorbell rang and her mother called from downstairs as she opened the door. ‘Honey, someone’s here to see you!’ Mrs. LaPray called. ‘Be down in a minute mom!’ she said and checked herself one last time in the mirror before walking downstairs. Her mom and even the chauffer’s mouth dropped when they saw her. She looked more than ever like a princess as she walked slowly downstairs. She looked so lively and so young. Dani smiled down at them. ‘How do I look?’ she asked her mother. ‘Beautiful. Just beautiful’ her mother smiled and took her in her arms. ‘I’m going to Michael’s house for dinner. I’ll be back tomorrow’ Dani said as the chauffer stood up and bowed at them. He looked in his early 50’s and had salt and pepper hair. ‘We must get going Ms. LaPray. Mr. Jackson is waiting for us’ . He had a British accent that made Dani giggle a bit. ‘Have fun dear. Don’t stay up too long’ her mother instructed as the three of them walked outside. ‘I won’t’ she kissed her mother’s cheek as the chauffer opened the limo door for her. It was a beautiful December night. Snow had stopped falling but blankets of it filled the streets and rooftops of houses. She glanced up. The sky was starless and only the moon was shining upon them. She gave one last glance at her mother before she slid inside and the chauffer closed the door. Mrs. LaPray waved as they drove away. She knew that Michael had an interest in Dani. She could just see it in his eyes the way he looked at her when she saw them earlier in the park, sitting and just talking on the park bench. And she saw them in a restaurant earlier that afternoon, talking and laughing. They looked pretty cozy with each other, almost like a couple. And she knew that wasn’t far from happening. Michael had that glow in his eyes whenever he was with Dani. One she had never seen when he was with Tatiana. ‘Ah young love’ she smiled as she gave one last glance at the sky and closed the door behind her. And somewhere in the night, Dani was in a limo… staring out the window… ready for her night with Michael…